Lucas Digne has decided he wants to leave Goodison Park in the January transfer window after falling out with Rafa Benitez over his role in the Everton squad, according to 90min.
Benitez has omitted the full-back from his line-up in the Toffees’ last three Premier League games. He overlooked Digne for minutes against Arsenal and Crystal Palace, stating, via Sky Sports, the 28-year-old must ‘realise the priority has to be the team’ and not his role.
The Spaniard later noted he intended to recall Digne at Chelsea on Thursday night. But the full-back reported feeling unwell after training on Tuesday, which kept him out of the draw.
Centre-half Ben Godfrey has stood in for Digne at left-back in Everton’s last three games. The Blues are now ramping up their recruitment drive to sign another natural for the role.
Everton have no out-and-out replacement for Digne at the club, but are closing in on a deal for Dynamo Kyiv’s Vitaliy Mykolenko. The Daily Mail report the Toffees have agreed a fee of around £18m for the 22-year-old. But his manager fears the move could be too soon.
Digne wants out of Everton with immediate transfer
Benitez may have to hope Mykolenko can join Everton during the January transfer window and instantly be his first-choice at left-back, with Digne now wanting out of Goodison Park.
He moved to Merseyside in 2018 from Barcelona in an £18m deal and has proven to be one of the Premier League’s best attacking full-backs. But Benitez has tasked the 43-cap France international with greater defensive responsibilities since replacing Carlo Ancelotti.
Digne now wants to depart Goodison with three-and-a-half years remaining on the £119k-a-week contract he signed in February. Speaking with EvertonTV after penning the deal, he had explained his relationship with the Blues as ‘an amazing wedding’.
“You just have to do your best every day to show Evertonians the love you have for them,” he noted. “That is what I do. I want to show them what they give me and it is just amazing.
“It was clear in my mind that I want to continue with Everton.”
Digne to put Juventus on red alert ahead of January sales
But Ancelotti’s exit in the summer and subsequent arrival of Benitez has seemingly forced a change of heart. Now, Digne – who ex-Everton boss Marco Silva claimed ‘has everything’ – will put clubs like Juventus on alert for potential transfers.
Reports by Calciomercato claim Juventus have tested the ground for a mid-season transfer for Digne as they seek a full-back. But it is not claimed if they approached Everton or Digne.
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